Thousands step up to support Good Samaritan

By Fritz Esker
Contributing Writer

Burnell’s Market, the Lower 9th Ward’s only community grocery, just received an avalanche of donations from GoFundMe after the market’s owner, Burnell Cotlon, told The Washington Post and other media outlets the story of his store and his neighborhood’s struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of press time, the GoFundMe page (https://www.gofundme.com/f/burnell039s-lower-9th-market) had raised a little over $345,000 of a $400,000 goal. James Carder, an Evergreen, Colo. retiree who has never lived in New Orleans, started the fundraiser after hearing Cotlon’s story on NPR. Carder said he just wanted to donate $100 to the store, so he set up the page. A friend also donated $100. But a week later, The Washington Post story ran and other media outlets picked up on Cotlon’s story and the GoFundMe page. Donations quickly poured in from around the country.

Burnell Colton with is mother Lilli

“What touched me was he made this place (Burnell’s Market) a focal point for his community,” Carder said. “I think his story touched the soul of America. We want to help in times of trouble.”

Since Cotlon spent his life savings to open Burnell’s Market in 2014, it has been an oasis to a neighborhood in desperate need of a grocery store. Many of the Lower 9th Ward’s residents worked jobs in the service/hospitality industry that has been hit hard by the economic fallout from COVID-19 shutdowns. Now, Cotlon has let customers buy things on store credit and even given away food. The U.S. Army veteran also routinely works 17-hour days to keep his store running.

Burnell’s Market in the Lower Ninth Ward

“Before I opened, this part of the city was a food desert. The easiest way to get fresh produce was to take three buses to the Walmart in Chalmette,” Cotlon told The Washington Post. “I’m running out of some things now because it’s getting so tight. I’m low on rice and sugar, but I hustle to fill this store. I say to my customers, ‘Tell me what you want and I’ll stock it’.”

In an interview with PBS News Hour, Cotlon elaborated on his love for his neighborhood and his neighbors. He described hugging a grandmother who broke down in tears when her credit card was declined while she tried to purchase food for her grandchildren. He took down the amount she owed with pen and paper, then gave her the food.

“This is my community…I can’t turn them down because there’s nowhere else for them to go,” Cotlon said. “I found my purpose and my purpose is service.”

Cotlon’s message clearly resonated with Americans, as over 4,000 people have donated to the cause and over 3,800 have shared the link to the GoFundMe page on social media. The page is also full of supportive messages from donors.

“Mr. Burnell is a living example of how this country and world will be a better place if we just cared a little more for one another,” wrote Claudia Santino.

“Burnell’s selfless devotion to his community, his bravery in taking on this daunting task, and his never back down attitude made me proud to be an American – something I haven’t felt very often since 2016,” wrote Jerry Wilkes.

Cotlon has posted messages on the page in response to the onslaught of donations. These include videos of the neighborhood, pictures of Cotlon stocking the store, and updates on repairing the air conditioner.

“I would like to personally thank everybody from the bottom of my heart! We are able to continue to feed our community during these difficult times,” Cotlon wrote.

This article originally published in the May 18, 2020 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.